Today was another milestone in the world of competitive surfing, thanks to the beautifully lined-up walls of everyone’s favorite liquid skate park, Lowers Trestles. The iconic status of this legendary break brings out the best in each surfer, allowing them to perform combinations of maneuvers usually reserved for mind surfing. But considering most people can’t even imagine these combos, today’s surfing gave the masses a serious reality check.

Above: Jadson Andre goes ballistic against Kai Otton.

One of the gnarliest heats I have ever witnessed in person went down today, in a foreshadowing of what the future holds. When a local phenom gets a sponsor wildcard into the big event at his home break, you can expect some big things, including a possible upset or two. But when that wildcard is child prodigy Kolohe Andino surfing in the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro, huge things are going to happen, and the upset just might be a current headliner of today’s avant-guard progressive movement named Dusty Payne. Dusty was on fire, surfing explosively yet still losing despite earning the 7th highest heat total of the entire event. His surfing was a mix of powerful speed blasts, blowing his fins out the back displacing gallons of water, and sweeping carves mixed with clean air reverses to demonstrate the current standard in the world of new age ripping. But “Brother” Andino took the level and raised it, by airing over it with a stalefish air reverse on his outside first maneuver, and linking solid rail work with some flair while finishing with clean air reverses on the inside (including one slob grab), surfing so quick and technically I don’t know if people even had time to register what happened. What do you call the new new level?

Above: One of the best heats in ages—Dusty Payne vs. Kolohe Andino.

Other worthy performances included Kai Otton absolutely flaring backside hero snap combos in the dying seconds to make his heat with an interference and taking down über star Julian Wilson in the process. Both Hobgood brothers executed some fluid precision turns that were a pleasure to watch. Tanner Gudauskas went on a rampage absolutely belting a sweet right to defeat another top performer and Day One’s form surfer Bobby Martinez. Some close calls went down as well, with Brazilian power surfer William Cardoso taking out semi-local Cory Lopez in a tiebreak heat on the countback—crazy tight.

Kolohe Andino's stalefish. Are you kidding me? Photo: jackenglish.com

The Brazilian heat wins didn’t end there, with them making up 8 of the remaining 12 competitors in the event at this stage. Jadson Andre has been ridiculously on point, utilizing sweeping down face carves comboed with butter-smooth air reverses in heavy detonation zones to post the 1st and 2nd highest combined heat totals in the event so far. His flyweight countrymen that have also been impressing the judges include Gabriel Medina, Miguel Pupo, Junior Faria and Thiago Camarao. Be worried when the mid year re-seed takes place, these guys are ready to make a statement.

Also getting a start today was the Oakley Pro Jr. running its first two heats, with Luke Davis posting an impressive win, and current World Junior Champion Jack Freestone winning a hard fought battle for advancement over a ripping Kiron Jabour and wonderkid Jack Robinson. Take note now world, 13-year old Jack Robinson has the fluid style and mature lines of a world class surfer, along with the air reverses and lip turns necessary to define a true talent, so make sure to remember that name, you’re going to get used to hearing it a lot more in the near future.

Once again the performance potential of this perfect pointbreak pushed progression to new levels, and everyone’s super excited to see how the level continues to intensify as we head toward the weekend.—Zachary Keenan

The 2011 Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro holds a waiting period from May 3 through 7, 2011 and is LIVE via www.nike6lowerspro.com

The Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro will be televised live and in its entirety in Hawaii on Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s Channel 250 and 1250HD. Additionally, the Oceanic Time Warner Cable live feed will be transported to Time Warner Cable’s Los Angeles (Channel 101), San Diego (Channel 411) and Desert Cities (Channel 111) markets from Thursday through Saturday.